There are a few things that came up in the past week that really bother me. I found myself worrying about the worst-case scenarios that could come about because of them, coming up with "zingers" I could say to some of the people behind them, thinking about posts that I could write about them, and generally just stressing about them. It was when mentally composing a post about one of them that I remembered one of the primary mantras that I repeat concerning my blog: don't write angry.
Now, I do not always follow that rule, and sometimes I have some brilliant (if I do say so myself) ideas that are fueled by my embracing the Dark Side of the Force. However, I often discover when I don't write when angry that I discover more about the subject and the people involved which makes me glad that I didn't start dousing that particular bridge with gasoline.
To be clear, I believe that putting my head in the sand and hoping that problems will somehow go away on their own is a near-certain way to ensure that even greater problems will visit me in the future. Still, running headlong into a wall also will not solve anything (usually). Instead, like Mr. Miyagi said about the best way to avoid a punch, often the solution is to "no be there." Taking a step back, or to the side, can often help to give me a greater appreciation for the issue that I'm facing.
Sure, it's not as macho as standing victorious in the obliterated remains of my enemies' arguments, but that doesn't happen all that often either. With that in mind, for the moment anyway, I am unclenching my teeth and allowing myself the time to better understand those issues before addressing them--if I decide to address them at all. Honestly, having made that decision earlier today rid myself of some of the physical aches that were starting to pile up.
Now, I do not always follow that rule, and sometimes I have some brilliant (if I do say so myself) ideas that are fueled by my embracing the Dark Side of the Force. However, I often discover when I don't write when angry that I discover more about the subject and the people involved which makes me glad that I didn't start dousing that particular bridge with gasoline.
To be clear, I believe that putting my head in the sand and hoping that problems will somehow go away on their own is a near-certain way to ensure that even greater problems will visit me in the future. Still, running headlong into a wall also will not solve anything (usually). Instead, like Mr. Miyagi said about the best way to avoid a punch, often the solution is to "no be there." Taking a step back, or to the side, can often help to give me a greater appreciation for the issue that I'm facing.
Sure, it's not as macho as standing victorious in the obliterated remains of my enemies' arguments, but that doesn't happen all that often either. With that in mind, for the moment anyway, I am unclenching my teeth and allowing myself the time to better understand those issues before addressing them--if I decide to address them at all. Honestly, having made that decision earlier today rid myself of some of the physical aches that were starting to pile up.
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